Rep. Tolulope Akande-Sadipe (APC-Oluyole), says effective partnership of all tiers of governments, including wives of state governors and stakeholders will strengthen fight against human trafficking in the country.

Akande-Sadipe made this known in a statement by his Media Aide, Olamilekan Olusada, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan on Thursday.

The Newsmen reports that the World Day against Trafficking in Persons is held annually on July 30.

The lawmaker, also the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora Affairs, expressed concern about the high-level of trafficking.

She said that wives of governors in the country should rise against human trafficking and other vices against females.

“This is another form of violence against women. The best way to eradicate the evil among us is to work in unity.

“Wives of governors should use their offices to advocate against the act.

“The trafficking agents and their collaborators are not more powerful than those who mean well for the people of this nation,” Akande-Sadipe said.

The lawmaker said that their meeting revealed fruitful collaborations with wives of governors which could bring the embarrassing scourge to an end.

“This action will ensure that we build awareness in our various states.

“We need to educate parents and girls on the risk of foreign domestic servitude and the lies of traffickers who lured them into dangerous situations.

“We will ensure that the collaboration focuses on rehabilitation, effective sensitization, workshops, and seminars across communities, schools, churches, mosques, markets, and other public places,” she said.

Akande-Sadipe thanked the Nigerian Ambassador to Lebanon, Amb. Goni Zanna Bura, who recently came to the aid of 30 Nigerian girls, forcefully ejected by their landlords in Lebanon.

“I spoke to the Nigerian Ambassador in Lebanon and his response was inspiring as he had put in place some emergency palliatives for the girls in Lebanon.

“We also want to encourage the Ministry of Women Affairs and the ones in each state, local government authorities, relevant government agencies, and other stakeholders to partner with us.

“With such partnership, we are sure that the trafficking menace would be a thing of the past,” the lawmaker said.

She reiterated her commitment to ensuring proper legislation was put in place to discourage human trafficking.

She added that her committee was enjoying a strong working relationship with the Nigerians in the Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM) and National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).